Claws Of Death
Cat Lady Mysteries, Book #2
Linda Reilly
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The meow of death . . .
Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, is a long way from Hollywood, but it’s the place legendary actress Deanna Daltry wants to call home. Taking up residence in a stone mansion off Cemetery Hill, the retired, yet still glamorous, septuagenarian has adopted two kittens from Lara Caphart’s High Cliff Shelter for Cats. With help from her Aunt Fran, Lara makes sure the kitties settle in safely with their new celebrity mom.
But not everyone in town is a fan of the fading star. Deanna was in Whisker Jog when she was younger, earning a reputation for pussyfooting around, and someone is using that knowledge against her. After being frightened by some nasty pranks, Deanna finds herself the prime murder suspect when the body of a local teacher is found on her property. Now, it’s up to Lara, Aunt Fran, and the blue-eyed Ragdoll mystery cat Lara recently encountered to collar a killer before another victim is pounced upon . . .
Praise for Linda Reilly’s Deep Fried Mysteries
“I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzler of a mystery. Reilly cooks up a perfect recipe of murder and mayhem in this charming cozy.” —Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Hat Shop Mysteries
“Smart, sassy, and a little bit scary. Everything a good cozy should be!” —Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries
“Everything I want in a cozy mystery: endearing characters, an enchanting setting, tantalizing food descriptions and a top-notch mystery plot!” —Susan Furlong, author of the Georgia Peach Mysteries (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I very much enjoyed getting to spend more time with Lara and Aunt Fran. Their relationship seems natural and realistic. They may not always agree on everything but you never doubt their love for each other. The secondary characters added a lot to the story and I am interested to see if Kayla makes an appearance in future books. And all of the cats are as important of characters as any of the human, and I love this aspect of the series. And I loved Blue, Lara’s magical cat. He is very helpful in guiding Lara along the path that she should take.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing. Through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place and listening to conversations. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The pacing moved along at a steady pace and kept me engaged through the entire story.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. There were some twists and turns that I did not see coming and it was not an easy mystery to solve. Which is just how I like my mysteries.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like animals in your cozies, check this book out.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
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